Hand stamps



March 22, 1966 H. P. KEcK 3,241,482

HAND STAMPS Filed Oct. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 22, 1966 H; p,KECK 3,241,482

HAND STAMPS Filed oct. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States PatentCilice 3,241,482 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 3,241,482 HAND STAMPS Harold l.Keek, 421i Charlotte St., Crystal Lake, Ill. Filed Oct. 25, 1963, Ser.No. 318,960 6 Claims. (Cl. lill- 103) This invention relates toimprovements in hand stamps.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a hand stamp whichoperates through a short stroke, that is, the printing unit is movedfrom non-printing to printing position in a relatively short movement,thereby increasing the speed with which the stamp may be operated,reducing the pressure necessary to perform the stamping operation, andincreasing the life of the stamp.

By virtue of the short stroke or movement of the printing unit fromnon-printing to printing position less pressure is required on the partof the operator to perform the stamping function, which permits productsand objects to be stamped which are fragile and which are packaged incontainers which would not lend themselves to stamping by virtue of thepressure against them, and also permits the stamping of soft packages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand stamp in which theprinting unit is enclosed and in which the type bands are operated bylevers so that at no time does the operators hands or ngers engage anyof the type bands, either in setting the type bands or in the operationof the printingr stamp. This feature prevents the soiling of the handsand lingers and prevents any accidental soiling or ink smudging ofmerchandise by reason of any portion of the stamp resting against suchpackaging, and also preserves the printed characters and extends theirlife by reason of the fact that the surfaces of the type bands are notmanually engaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved type ofinking means for a hand stamp in which the ink supply is fed to the inkpad to provide an even distribution of ink available for use when neededand also to provide an ink pad which by the nature of its physicalcharacteristics provides a resilient quality necessary for long andeicient operation.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a hand stamp of the depressible typeutilizing this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of the lower portion of thehand stamp of this invention, taken on lines 2--2 of FIG. 3, and showingsame in non-printing position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of the lowerportion of the hand stamp.

. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the main frame;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational View corresponding to FIG. 2 but showingthe printing unit depressed as when printing, with the inking mechanismretracted;

FIG. 7 is a view partly in section showing particularly the inkingmechanism;

FIG. 8 is an exploded View in perspective of the members comprising theinking mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inking mechanism with the partsassembled;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the strip forming the inkpad, and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional View taken on lines 11-11 of FIG. 8.

Referring rst to the construction shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive, thestamp comprises a main base frame generally indicated at 12 and adepressible sub-frame generally indicated at 14. The depressiblesub-frame carries the printing unit generally indicated at 16.

The main base frame 12 has a pair of side members 18 connected by a topcross member 19. A bottom plate 20 is secured to the side members 18 andthe bottom plate 2l) has an enlarged rectangular shaped opening 22 toaccommodate the printing unit on the down stroke or printing position.Secured to the top cross member 19 of the main base frame 12 andextending upwardly thereof is a stem 24. The side members 18 of the mainbase frame are each provided with a vertically extending slot 26 withinwhich ride the detachable fastening pins 28 and 29 securing the printingunit 16 to the depressible subframe 14, to be subsequently described.The side members 18 of the main base frame extend outwardly along oneedge thereof to provide an extension 30 which has an opening 31 toaccommodate a pin 32 which pivotally supports the inking unit, generallyindicated at 34, to be described. The side members 18 each have anarcuate shaped slot 36 extending inwardly of the opening 31 in whichride the pin 38 on the inking unit 34.

The depressible sub-frame 14 has a pair of spaced sides 4t) joined by atop cross member 41. The cross member 41 has a Central opening 42 andextending over said opening and secured to said cross :member of thedepressible frame is a tubular handle 44 having a knob 45 at the upperend. The stem 24 extends into the tubular handle 44 and a coil spring(not shown) is positioned in the tubular handle, acting against the stem24 for the purpose of normally maintaining the depressible sub-frame 14in its elevated position, as shown in FIG. 1. This is conventional inthe art.

The sides 40 of the depressible frame member 14 each have an outward anddownward extension 46 and formed in each said extension is a slotgenerally indicated at 48. The upper portion 49 of the slot extendsvertically and communicates with an angularly inclined end slot portion50. The general configuration of the slot 48- in profile is similar to ahockey stick.

The mechanism of the printing unit generally indicated at 16 is of theconstruction shown in my prior Patent No. 3,099,955, and my co-pendiingpatent application led July 30, 1962, Serial No. 213,327, now Patent No.3,164,086. In said patent and in said application the type bands 53 ofthe printing unit are dotated by a selector mechanism which is claimedin said aforementioned patent and which will not be redescribed, exceptto point out that the levers of said selector mechanism are herein shownand are designated by the numeral 52. Each of the levers 52 operatesthrough the means, including the ratchet wheel 55, shown in said patentand patent application, to rotate and reset or position a particulartype band 53. The levers 52 are operated so that on their down strokefrom the position shown in FIG. l they will override the means forrotating the type band, but, on the upstroke of the lever 52 the pawloperated by said lever engages the ratchet wheel 55 to rotate the typeband 53 through the gearing arrangement shown in said patentapplication.

The mechanism of the printing unit referred to, including the means foroperating the type band, is enclosed in a housing generally indicated at54 which is closed except for the spaced vertical slots 56 in the frontof the housing and except for the bottom rectangular shaped opening 57in the housing. The slots 56 in housing 54 permit the levers 52 toextend therethrough and to be manually engaged for actuating same. Thebottom opening 57 of the housing exposes the printing end of the typebands to permit them to make their impression when the depressiblesub-frame 14 is depressed, and also permits the ink pad to engage theprinting end of the type bands when in non-printing or undepressedposition.

The length of the slots 56 permits the levers 52 to be moved or rotatedso that a single upstroke movement of lever 52 will change the type banda single increment. This is possible by reason of the elements shown anddescribed in the aforementioned application in conjunction with the slotshown herein. Due to this arrangement the operator in resetting the typeband need not visually observe the position of the lever or the printingband but knows that each time the lever is moved upwardly its fulllength until it is stopped by the end of the slot that the type band isbeing reset by one increment. The down stroke of the lever 52 does notchange the type band.

The printing unit 16 has three cross shafts which support the gears onwhich the type bands 53 are rotatably mounted. The shafts are secured toend mounting plates 59 which provide a supporting framework for themechanism of the printing unit 16. The printing unit is suitablysupported in the housing 54 and the end mounting plates 59 engage theinside of the side walls 58 of the housing 54. The side walls 58 of thehousing each has a vertically extending rib or boss 60 extendingoutwardly thereof. The sides 4t) of the depressible sub-frame 14 areprovided with spaced openings which accommodate the pins 28 and 29secured to said sides. The Shanks of said pins extend through thevertical slots 26 in the side walls 18 of the main frame 12, with theends of said pins threadedly anchored or otherwise secured to the ribs60 of the housing 54 within which is contained the printing unit. Thus,as the handle 44 is depressed the depressible sub-frame 14 movesdownwardly and with it the printing unit 16, including the housing 54thereon, with the pins 28 and 29 riding in the vertical slots 26 in theside walls of the main stationary frame 12. The pins or fasteningmembers 28 and 29 are detachably secured to the housing 54 to permitready attachment and detachment of the housing 54 (and the printingunit) with respect to the depressible sub-frame 14.

Secured to move with the depressible sub-frame and to be operated by themovement thereof is the inking unit generally indicated at 34, which isshown in greater detail in FIGS. 7 to 11 inclusive. The inking unit 34includes a rectangular shaped container generally indicated by thenumeral 62, from the sides of which exend upwardly a generally T-shapedextension 64. The cross portion of said extension is provided with anopening 65 and the front of said cross portion has the pin 3S formedtherewith.

Before describing further the details of the inking mechanism there willnow be described the manner in which the inking mechanism operates andmoves in relation to the printing unit.

The inking container 62 is pivotally connected to the rearwardextensions 30 of the sides of main base frame 12 by the pivotal pin 32on each side extending through the opening 31 in the sides of the mainbase frame and the opening 65 in the cross portion 64 of the inkingcontainer 62. The pin 38 on each of the cross portions 64 rides in thearcuate slot 34 of the sides 18 of the main base frame and in the slot48 in the sides 40 of the depressible frame 14. In normal ornon-printing position, that is, when the depressible sub-frame 14 andthe printling unit is in its up or elevated position, as shown in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, the inking mechanism 34 is so positioned as to be directlyunder the printing end of the printing unit and the ink pad container ispositioned parallel with the printing end of the printing unit andparallel with the base 20. In this position the pin 38 on each side isat the lowermost end in the inclined portion 50 of the slot 48 of thedepressible sub-frame 14, as shown in FIGS. l and 2.

Upon depression of the handle 44 of the depressible sub-frame 14, andwith it the printing unit, the slot 48 on the sides of the depressiblesub-frame will move down,

and as the slot moves down it will through its contact with the pins 38cause the inking mechanism 34 to pivot outwardly on the pivotal pins 32away from the printing unit, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby allowing theprinting unit to perform its printing operation through its movementinto the open rectangular space 22 of the bottom 20. After the printinghas been performed and the handle 44 is released, the spring within thehandle, not shown, will cause the handle to move up and thereby elevatewith it the depressible sub-frame 14. As the depressible subframe risesin relation to the stationary base frame 12, the pins 38 connected tothe inking unit will move through the slot 48 and will cause the inkingunit to move from its tilted or inclined position back to its horizontalposition directly under the printing end of the printing unit.

The foregoing construction provides a unit in which the printing unit isenclosed, except for the portion aforementioned, and wherein therotation and setting of the type bands is performed by engaging levers52 so that at no time are the operators hands ever in contact with thetype bands which are normally inked. Thus, irrespective of the number oftimes the type bands have to be changed and set, as is customary, at notime does the operator soil his hands by ink, which is a Veryobjectionable feature in present day commercial stamps. In addition toprotecting the operators hands from ink, merchandise is also preventedfrom ink smudging as often occurs when the sides of the printing bandscontact the merchandise. Also, by virtue of their enclosure the printingcharacters on the type bands are prevented from being damaged.

Of great importance in connection with this invention is the shortstroke through which the printing unit moves from a non-printing to aprinting position. This is occasioned by the particular arrangement ofparts and slots. With the present invention the stroke is approximatelyone-third shorter than the stroke of conventional stamps. Advantagesaccrue as a result of a short stroke, for example, one advantage is thatless effort is needed to perform the printing operation. A reducedstroke means lighter pressure against the object to be stamped,consequently it is now possible to stamp objects which are fragile andsoft, which were not possible to satisfactorily stamp previously. Also,the advantage of a short stroke permits a faster, quieter action withless wear and tear on the structure.

In applicants commercial construction there is a movement ofapproximately 11/16 of an inch of the printing stamp from its upposition to its down or printing position. This is a considerablyshorter stroke than other commercial stamps have and produces theaforementioned advantages. It also makes it easier on the operator toperform the stamping function without tiring; he is able to perform afaster stamping operation and consequently can increase his output.

The inking unit generally indicated at 34 and more particularly shown inFIGS. 7 to 1l inclusive, will now be described in greater detail.

Heretofore referred to was the ink pad housing or container previouslydesignated generally by the numeral 62. Within this housing ispositioned a rectangular shaped member generally designated by thenumeral 68 which is formed to provide two chambers or compartments; onechamber 70 is for the ink supply and the other chamber 72 receives thelaminated absorbent material. The rectangular shaped member has a top orcover portion 73 and a vertical wall 74, the bottom of which is spacedabove the bottom of the container to provide a slot or passageway 76between the ink compartment 7@ and the open face compartment 72. The topwall 73 of the ink compartment is provided with an opening 75 which isclosed by a removable cap 76 and the ink supply 77 is admitted throughthe opening 75 into the compartment.

Within the open face compartment 72 is positioned the ink pad 78 whichcomprises a strip of absorbent material, pffelably 0f a woven texture,which is folded upon itself to form a series of connected plies orlaminations 80. After the absorbent material has been shaped and folded,as shown, the opposite ends of the folded strip are ldipped into abonding solution so that when it dries the opposite ends of the pad arebonded together by the bonding material 82 to hold the laminations orplies together, as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 8. In thiscondition the inking pad 78 is inserted in the open face compartment 72and the ink 77 in compartment 70 will seep through the slotted opening74' into the bottom of the open face compartment 72 and throughcapillary action through laminations 80 will bring to the pad surface acontrolled supply of ink necessary for eficient marking. The ink supplycan be replenished through the opening 75 and therefore the inking pad78 has a continuous flow of ink just sufficient to maintain it in aproper inked condition. By virtue of the particular pad construction thepad has a bounce-back or complete recovery quality at the `pad surface,that is, after the printing unit moves away from its engagement with thesurface of the ink pad the depressions usually made in the pad willrecover to a normal condition and the ink pad will become at and allindentations will disappear. By reason of this construction a betterinking quality is obtained from the inking pad and the life of the padis increased since depressions normally made by the printing charactersdo not appear in the present construction.

It will be understood that when the stamp is in its up position, asshown in FIGS. l and 2, that the printing end of the printing unit is inengagement with the stamp pad 78, best shown in FIG. 2, and when thehand stamp is operated or depressed the inking unit is tilted at anangle as shown in FIG. 6. In this position a controlled amount of inkfluid will flow by reason of the inclined angle into compartment 72containing the pad. Thus, with each actuation of the device a sufficientamount of ink will ow from the ink reservoir to the pad portion.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madefrom the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand stamp comprising a main frame and a depressible sub-framesupported on said main frame, a printing unit including 4a plurality ofbands rotatably supported on said printing unit, said printing unitsupported on said depressible sub-frame, means guiding the printing unitfor translatory movement in a str-aight line direction from an elevatedposition to a printing position, a radially extending lever on saidprinting unit for rotating each said type band, a housing enclosing saidprinting unit and provided with slots through which said levers extend,said housing completely enclosing said type bands except for a bottomopening provided in said housing and permitting printing therethrough,said housing supported by said depressible su'b-frame and movabletherewith an ink pad pivotally connected to said ma-in frame for inkingthe printing end of said type bands, said depressible sub-frame adaptedwhen depressed to move said printing unit into printing position and tomove said ink pad to a position away from the printing end,

2. A hand stamp comprising a main frame and a depressible subir-amesupported on said main frame and positioned over said main frame andreciprocable with respect thereto, .a printing unit secured to saiddepressible sub-frame, means guiding the printing unit for translatorymovement in a straight line direction from an elevated position to aprinting posit-ion, said printing unit including a plunality of printingbands having printing characters thereon, a housing for enclosing saidprinting unit, said housing having a plurality of slots in one of thewalls thereof, levers secured to said printing unit and extendingoutwardly of said slots for manual engagement for rotating the printingbands of said printing unit, said housing having an opening at thebottom thereof, an ink pad member pivotally supported on said main frameand normally positioned in a horizontal plane adjacent the printing endof said printing unit to make contact with the printing characters onthe printing band for the purpose of inking same, means connecting saidpivotal inking member with said depressible sub-frame so that depressionof said subframe will cause said inking member to pivot away from theprinting end of the printing unit to permit printing.

3. A structure deiined in claim 2 in which the slots are of a length sothat movement of the lever through the length of the slot will cause thetype band to be rot-ated one increment.

4. A structure deiined in claim 2 in which the main frame is providedwith a vertical slot on each of its sides and the means which connectsthe printing unit to said depressible sub-frame extends through saidvertical slots.

15. A structure defined in claim 2 in which the main frame is providedwith a vertical slot on e-ach of its opposite sides with the meansconnecting said printing unit and depressible sub-frame extendingthrough said vertical slots to ride therewithin and wherein each -of thesides of the main frame rhas a slot positioned at. an angle rearwardlyof said vertical slot through which extends a pin member of the inkingpad member.

6. A structure deiined in claim 2 in which the printing unit issupported Iin a housing `which is detachably secured to the depressiblesub-frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 532,064 1/1895Wosinski 101--108 `650,102 5/ 1900 Tilly 118-264 838,683 12/1906Caldwell 101-101 963,972 7/1910 Wosinski 101--108 1,230,391 `6/1917Folger et al. lOl-333 1,569,470 1/1926 Falder 118-264 2,075,169 3/1937Brown 101-103 X 2,096,340 10/1937 Richeson 101--111 2,983,219 5/1961Weissman lOl-333 3,090,305 5/1963 Keck 101--334 3,099,955 `8/1963 Keck101--105 DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. PENN, PAUL R. WOODS, Assistant Examiners`

1. A HAND STAMP COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME AND A DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAMESUPPORTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME, A PRINTING UNIT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OFBANDS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID PRINTING UNIT, SAID PRINTING UNITSUPPORTED ON SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME, MEANS GUIDING THE PRINTING UNITFOR TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT IN A STRAIGHT LINE DIRECTION FROM AN ELEVATEDPOSITION TO A PRINTING POSITION, A RADIALLY EXTENDING LEVER ON SAIDPRINTING UNIT FOR ROTATING EACH SAID TYPE BAND, A HOUSING ENCLOSING SAIDPRINTING UNIT AND PROVIDED WITH SLOTS THROUGH WHICH SAID LEVERS EXTEND,SAID HOUSING COMPLETELY ENCLOSING SAID TYPE BANDS EXCEPT FOR A BOTTOMOPENING PROVIDED IN SAID HOUSING AND PERMITTING PRINTING THERETHROUGH,SAID HOUSING SUPPORTED BY SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME AND MOVABLETHEREWITH AN INK PAD PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN FRAME FOR INKINGTHE PRINTING END OF SAID TYPE BANDS, SAID DEPRESSIBLE SUB-FRAME ADAPTEDWHEN DEPRESSED TO MOVE SAID PRINTING UNIT INTO PRINTING POSITION AND TOMOVE SAID INK PAD TO A POSITION AWAY FROM THE PRINTING END.